Cleaner for barrel-bushings



(NQ Model.)

A CLEANER FOR BARREL BUSHINGS. p N0-472,065. I Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

, 34a/vanto@ Www/moed Z'mvZf-rzyy/ elrr i e Y 0%@ AMM I at owe NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

EMIL TRAUGOTT MUELLER, OF `LA GROSSE, VISCONSIN.

CLEANER FOR BARREL-BUSHINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,065, dated April 5, 1892. Application filed November 9, 1891. Serial No. 411,258- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL TRAUGOTT MUEL- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cleaners for Barrel-Bushings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for and process of cleaning and removing the pitch from the bushes of beer-kegs and the like; and it has for its objects, among others, to prevent the burning of the wood around the bush and to better clean the pitch from the bush. It is a well-known fact that all brewers pitch their kegs. In emptying out the pitch from the kegs much of it adheres to the sides of the iron bushes, and this must be removed. The present method of doing this is to have large burning-irons and heat them to a red heat and then insert them into the bush. This burns out some of the pitch; but as the bushes are not exactly round and the irons are there is much pitch left on the sides of the bushes, which will cause thebung to blow out of the keg. Furthermore, in burning out the pitch the iron imparts much heat to the bush, and as the bush is screwed into the keg it will cause the particles of wood between the threads to char, and hence a leaky keg will be the result. By my invention the pitch maybe cleaned quickly and effectually and there is no danger of burning the wood around and about the bush.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly1 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon,form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure lis an elevation of my improvement with a keg in section, showing the device in operation. Fig. 2 is a detail of the brush, partly in section.

sists, preferably, of a center t, with a polygonal portion b for attachment to a shaft, and a covering c, provided with metal or wire fingers c', as seen best in Fig. 2. It is preferably conical, as shown, to facilitate its insertion in the bush and to enable it to better clean the pitch therefrom.

As above stated, any means may be ernployed for operating the brush. I have shown 'what at present I consider the preferable means. It consists of a suitable base-piece C in suitable bearings, in which is supported the shaft D, which is provided near one end with a sprocket-wheel E and near the other end with a bevel-pinion F. The bevel-pinion meshes with a bevel-pinion F on the shaft G at right angles to the shaft D and journaled in suitable bearings in the base and the portion d of the base-piece, this shaft being provided at its end with suitable means for the attachment of the brush-shank, being preferably retained by a set-screw e. On this shaft G is sleeved the hub II, from which project the curved arms J, which are designed to support the lieg while it is being operated upon, the keg being prevented from coming in contact with the brush by the spring I, coiled around the shaft, as seen in Fig. l, and confined between the under side of the said hub and a shoulder or stop f on the portion a. of thebase-piece.

y K is a shaft journaled in the portion A of the base-piece, and upon the inner end of this shaft is a sprocket-wheel M, which is connected with the sprocket-wheel E by the chain M', as shown in Fig. 1. Motion is det signed to be imparted to the shaft K in any suitable manner either byhand or otherwise. It is shown as provided with a drive-wheel N, operated either by hand by the handle f or IOO by pitnian connection g', as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l.

The operation will be readily understood. The keg is supported upon the arms J, as shown in Fig. l, and the brush inserted in the bush and rotary motion imparted thereto, the pitch being perfectly and quickly cleaned from the bush Without any danger of burning the Wood.

The invention embraces, broadly, the idea of removing the pitch from the bush bya rotary device in eontradistinotion to a hot iron, and I desire such breadth to be given to the following claims. s

What I claim as new is l. The combination, With a rotary Wire Y brush, of means for revolving said brush and spring-supported arms for holding a keg and having the brush operating shaft passed through the hub of said arms, substantially zo as specified.

2. The combination, with a rotary Wire brush and means for revolving the same, of a hub sleeved on the shaft of the said brush and carrying keg-supporting arms, as set z 5 forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed myname in the presence of two Witnesses.

EMIL TRAUGOTT MUELLER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. VoLNER, WILLIAM VIELE. 

